EDPT (Electronic Data Processing Test) 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a flowchart, what shape is typically used to represent a decision point?
- Rectangle
- Oval
- Parallelogram
- Diamond (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Diamond
A diamond shape in a flowchart represents a decision point where the flow branches based on a yes/no or true/false condition.
Question 2: Which of the following correctly describes volatile memory?
- Memory that retains data without power
- Memory that loses its data when power is removed (Correct answer)
- Read-only memory embedded in firmware
- Memory stored on magnetic disks
Correct answer: Memory that loses its data when power is removed
Volatile memory loses all stored data when the power supply is interrupted; RAM is the most common example.
Question 3: What is the purpose of an index in a database?
- To encrypt sensitive columns
- To duplicate data for backups
- To speed up data retrieval operations (Correct answer)
- To enforce password policies
Correct answer: To speed up data retrieval operations
A database index is a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval operations at the cost of additional storage space.
Question 4: Which of the following best defines 'throughput' in a computing context?
- The time delay between a request and its response
- The amount of data processed in a given time period (Correct answer)
- The maximum number of users connected simultaneously
- The size of the CPU's register set
Correct answer: The amount of data processed in a given time period
Throughput is the rate at which a system processes data or transactions over a specific period of time.
Question 5: What does the term 'alphanumeric' refer to?
- Data consisting only of numbers
- Data consisting only of letters
- Data consisting of both letters and numbers (Correct answer)
- Data stored in binary format
Correct answer: Data consisting of both letters and numbers
Alphanumeric data consists of a combination of alphabetic characters (A–Z) and numeric characters (0–9).
Question 6: In computing, what is a 'compiler'?
- A program that executes source code line by line without translation
- A program that translates high-level source code into machine code all at once (Correct answer)
- Hardware that increases processing speed
- A device that compresses files for storage
Correct answer: A program that translates high-level source code into machine code all at once
A compiler translates an entire high-level language program into machine code before execution, unlike an interpreter which processes code line by line.
Question 7: Which type of error occurs when a program runs but produces incorrect results due to a logic mistake?
- Syntax error
- Runtime error
- Logic error (Correct answer)
- Compile error
Correct answer: Logic error
A logic error occurs when code runs without crashing but produces wrong results because the algorithm or formula is flawed.
EDPT (Electronic Data Processing Test) 5
In a flowchart, what shape is typically used to represent a decision point?